Opening Bell: Nifty, Sensex open flat; metal, banking shares decline

The Indian markets started Tuesday on a flat note amid spiraling Omicron cases and mixed global cues. Domestic equity benchmarks Nifty50 and the S&P BSE Sensex opened at 17,997.75 and 60,342.70 respectively. However, the broader Nifty soon reclaimed 18,000-mark as the index gained 36.35 points or 0.2% to 18,039.65. The Sensex too went past 60,400 as the index added over 30 points.  

Tata Consumer, HDFC Bank, Shree Cement, SBI Life, Hindalco, IndusInd Bank, NTPC, Mahindra and Mahindra, Ultratech Cement and Sun Pharma were among top gainers. Tata Steel, JSW Steel, Coal India, Bajaj Finance, Kotak Bank, L&T and State Bank of India were among top losers. 

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Earlier in the pre-open, the Sensex opened marginally lower by 50 points or 0.09% to 60,342.70 as 14 shares advanced and 16 declined on the 30-share Sensex.  

Meanwhile, the SGX Nifty hinted at a negative to flat start for the domestic equity markets on Tuesday as the Futures index traded 11.50 points or 0.06% lower to 18,036 at 9.05 am.  

Earlier, Japanese Nikkei 225 declined 1.08%, Hang Seng Index was trading with gain of 0.15% and Shanghai Composite was trading higher by 0.20% on Tuesday morning.  

On Monday, the US markets largely closed in the red. Dow Jones ended 0.45% lower, Nasdaq Composite was marginally up by 0.05%, S&P500 closed 0.14% lower and Russell 2000 too ended 0.40% lower on Monday.